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Haig Competing With US U-21 Women's National Team
April 24, 2007 | Women's Soccer
April 24, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Louisville women's soccer player Joanna Haig is competing with the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team in the 2007 International Soccer Festival in Alabama through April 28 and will be posting updates on her experiences in a diary format on UofLSports.com.
The senior-to-be, in her first season with the Cardinals after transferring from Iowa State, established a school record with her 0.49 GAA and she did not allow a goal over the final 376 minutes of the season. She was named a fourth-team All-American by Soccer Buzz, becoming the third All-American in Cardinal history
She posted eight shutouts for the season, tying the single season school record, despite not playing in the first four matches of the season.
Haig previously was in the US Soccer under 21 National Team camp February 17-24 in Carson, California at the Home Depot Center and competed with the US Soccer U-20 National Team last fall at the 2006 FIFA Women's World Championship in Russia.
For more information on the festival you can log on to www.2007futbolinternaticional.com. Here is Haig's first report from the festival:
Saturday, April 21
My flight to Birmingham was pretty uneventful, there was only a slight delay in Charlotte. Not to my surprise, I didn't sleep on either flight. I think it is physically impossible for me to fall asleep on planes, if someone has some pointers I'm all for hearing you out! That night, we had a light training session and the goalkeepers got to play with the field players in a 7 vs. 7 tournament. Of course, I showed off my amazing keeper-foot skills (yeah right.)
Sunday April 22
The day arrived for our first game verses China. A lot of my teammates and I still had a bitter taste in our mouths after losing in a shootout to them in the World Championships in Russia this past August. Legion Field was packed with 10,000 fans as we entered the stadium, and I immediately got goose bumps. The atmosphere was exciting and it was the largest crowd many of us have ever played in front of. We got our revenge by dominating the entire ninety minutes and getting a 2-0 result. After the game, we signed autographs even though there was a tall fence separating us from the fans. A huge amount of people stayed after the game, and our managers had to literally pull us away from them when it was time to go.
Now, for the more important matters. I have to be honest, food can make or break a trip and thus far, the meals have been amazing. We have been out to dinner every night and my favorite meal was an at incredible, homestyle barbeque restaurant. I loved every bit of my pulled pork sandwich and mashed potatoes with gravy. Desserts were also passed around and I can't argue with pie!
Best random event of the trip so far: Our bus got lost in a neighborhood and ended up knocking over a pole and a mailbox. Yes, we still have the same bus driver right now...I feel completely safe.
